Jóna Tours

Scotland: Shetland and Orkney Islands – 11 days

If you would like to book a tour, please click the orange button below that says ‘Download the Booking Form’. Save the form. Then print it. Fill it in, scan and email back to us. Alternatively, please email [email protected] or call +44 (0) 7756941599 to express your interest and we will email you a booking form that you can complete on your computer and email back.

Please email your booking form to [email protected] and pay the deposit of £250 per person (2024 tours) or £100 per person (2025) via the cart below. For 2025 tours the £100 will secure your place and the deposit balance of £150 should be paid by January 2025. A full deposit refund is available for cancellations made up to 3 months before the departure date, irrespective of the reason.

Experience an exclusive discovery tour to these fascinating Scottish islands. This exceptional, informative and comprehensive, all-inclusive, 11 days, island hopping tour conducted by Maggie McLeod will give you a remarkable insight into these beautiful islands. You will discover their history, archaeology, bird and plant life along with their customs and traditions. There will also be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wonderful landscapes and coastal vistas.

The Shetland Isles are located in the North Atlantic, as close to Norway as to Aberdeen. Shetland consists of a group of 100 islands with approximately 900 miles of coastline and a population of around 23,000. The Orkney Islands are located six miles north of the Scottish mainland. There are about 70 islands within the Orkney archipelago, 17 of which are inhabited.

Both Orkney and Shetland are unique and unlike any other part of Great Britain. They have managed to retain many of their original, unique customs and traditions resulting from their long and eventful history.  Fair Isle in Shetland gave its name to the unique, multi-coloured knitting designs on the islands famous woollen sweaters. It is claimed that these designs were copied from the clothing worn by shipwrecked Spanish sailors from the Armada. These men landed on the shore when their ship El Gran Grifon ran onto the rocks below the cliffs at Stronshellier in 1588.

Shetland and Orkney had a pivotal role to play during wartime. At Scapa Flow a local wartime historian shares incredible stories of WWI and WWII during our visit and we will hear of the daring exploits of the Shetland bus. We will drive over the Churchill Barriers and marvel at the Italian Chapel beautifully crafted out of 2 Nissan huts by WWII prisoners.

On Shetland we visit Sumburgh Head where the North Sea meets the Atlantic. Jarlshof with over 4,000 years of settlement and discover the undisturbed time capsule of Old Scatness

We visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkey, Maes Howe, Ness of Brodgar, Ring of Brodgar, Stenness Standing Stones, Barnhouse Village and Skara Brae.

Jona’s Tours are fully guided by an expert and offer a unique blend of exploration, education, adventure, enjoyment and congenial company. All meals included.

TOUR PRICE

2024 £3,655 per person

Single Supplement: £485

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

Flights to Aberdeen.

Ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall. Dinner on board.

An internal flight from Kirkwall to Aberdeen.

Private airport transfers

Accommodation in 4 star hotels.

Day 2, 3 and 4 at Busta House Hotel on Shetland.

Day 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at Kirkwall Hotel on Orkney.

Last night at Crowne Plaza at Aberdeen airport.

Full board, 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 three course dinners.

Private coach and driver.

Private guide, Maggie McLeod or John White for the whole tour.

Included in the tour price are all excursions, visits and entrance fees:
Plus Ferries to: Kirkwall, Orkney, Island of Hoy, return ferry trip, Tingwall, Yell and Unst.

• Clickimin Broch

• Sumburgh Head RSPB

• Light lunch at Sumburgh Hotel

• Jarlshof

• St Ninian’s Isle

• Hoswick Visitor Centre

• Old Scatness

• Ferry to Isle of Bressay, visit to a working croft with native
  and heritage breeds

• Scalloway for a light lunch

• Shetland Bus Museum

• Eshaness

• Beswick Community Centre Arts and Crafts

• Lerwick Museum

• Lunch at Hay’s Dock Cafe

• Maes Howe and Ness of Brodgar burial tombs.

• Ring of Brodgar

• Stenness Standing Stones

• Barnhouse Village

• Skara Brae

• Churchill Barriers

• Italian Chapel

• Hoxa Tapestry Studio

• Wartime talk on Scapa Flow

• Dwarfie Stane

• Scapa Flow War Museum with lunch

• Midhowe stalled burial cairn and Midhowe Broch